Which place is cheaper, Lhasa or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Dubai or Lhasa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Lhasa can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Lhasa?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Dubai Prices
UAE PricesLhasa Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289Lhasa $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, while the average daily cost in Lhasa is $96. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dubai and Lhasa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Lhasa $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Lhasa $84
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Lhasa
Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Lhasa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dubai Hotel Prices and Lhasa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Lhasa $2.75
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai With Transfer Option: $90
- Yellow Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfers: $110
- Wild Wadi Waterpark tickets with Private transfer: $148
- Wild Wadi Adventure Waterpark Tickets With Transfers Option: $93
- Try Scuba Diving & snorkeling in Fujairah with Transfer: $167
- Toyota Previa Private Airport Transfer To OR From Dubai Airport: $80
- Ticket to Dubai Frame With Private Transfers: $84
- The View at the Palm,non Prime Time With Two Way Private Transfer: $92
- The View at The Palm Iconic Palm Jumeirah Views with Transfers: $50
- The View At The Palm Jumeirah Experience in Dubai with Transfer: $80
- The View At The Palm Jumeirah Dubai With Transfer: $105
- The View At The Palm Jumeirah Dubai Tickets with Private transfer: $112
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- Lhasa Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $102
- Lhasa Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Lhasa?
Prices for flights to both Lhasa and Dubai change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDubai $96Lhasa $49
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dubai Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Ride and BBQ Dinner: $10
- VIP Red Dune Safari with 4x4 Pick/Drop,CamelRide,BBQ Dinner,Shows: $13
- Dhow Cruise With Dinner at Al Jaddaf Dubai: $14
- Evening Desert Safari Dubai with Camel Ride & BBQ dinner: $15
- VIP Red Dune Safari Dubai,Pick/Drop,Camel Ride, Quad & BBQ Dinner: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- VIP Red Dune Safari Dubai, Pick/Drop Camel Ride Quad & BBQ Dinner: $15
- VIP Desert Safari with 30 Minutes Quad Bike Dinner, Shows Dinner: $15
- Vip Sunset Desert Safari with pick&drop and BBQ dinner & liveshow: $15
- VIP Red Sand Safari, Pick/Drop, Camel Ride, Dinner & Show: $15
- Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $16
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Creek with pickup drop option: $16
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Lhasa $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- (Private) Abu Dhabi Sightseeing Tour from Dubai: $195
- 1 Hour Burj Khalifa Ticket with Cafe Treat: $67
- 1 Hour Kayaking Experience in Dubai Ticket: $43
- 1 Hour Private Luxury Yacht Experience in Dubai: $97
- 1 hour Dubai Marina Riviera Leisure Cruise: $111
- 1-Hour Dune Buggy Self-Drive, Camel Ride & Sandboarding Adventure: $150
- 1-Hour KTM 450CC Dirt bike Desert Adventure Tours in Dubai: $154
- 10 Hours Private Abu Dhabi City Tour: $181
- 12 mins Helicopter Tour & The View at The Palm Observatory Deck: $282
- 12-Minute Helicopter Tour & Desert Safari in Dubai combo: $297
- 1Hour Red Dunes Desert Buggy Adventure with Camel Ride Experience: $149
- 2 Day Dubai Layover, City Tour, Safari & Burj Khalifa 124 Floor.: $279
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Lhasa $7.41
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Lhasa, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Lhasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Lhasa is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Lhasa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lhasa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Lhasa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Lhasa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Lhasa?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Lhasa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.